Hand protector and gunstock carrier



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Feb. 2, 1965 N. T. WINNER ETAL 3,167,875

HAND PROTECTOR AND GUNSTOCK CARRIER Filed May 18, 1964 uvnwrons NORMAN r. WINNER a row L/IVDSEV arilbmj ATTORNEY an -a United States Patent HAND PRGTECTGR AND GUNSTGK (IARRiER Norman T. Winner, 13 Borer Ave, Hathoro, PH. and

Eiton Lindsey, 1t) Fern Ave, Willow Grove, Pa; said Lindsey assignor of forty percent to Robert .1. Curtis,

Willow Grove, Pa.

Filed May 13, 1954, Ser. No. 368.6% Claims. (Cl. 421) This invention relates to hand protectors and gunstock carriers.

Hunters frequently in the cold weather which occurs during hunting season while wearing gloves or mittens have difficulty in making the quick transitional movement required to shift the right hand from a carrying position on the gunstock to the position with the trigger finger on the trigger and ready for firing. This not only is distressing to the hunter if the game gets beyond range while he is making the shift but may also involve possibilities of accident if an attempt is made to use a glove encased hand or finger for firing. In cold weather, also, if the right hand is in an exposed condition it may become frost bitten or it may become too stiff to permit accurate control of the trigger.

It has been proposed to use in a pocket of the outer garment a hand warmer in which a low level flame is permitted to burn in a flat small portable receptacle. It is difiicult to move the hand from a position in the garment pocket for warming to a position for firing.

It has also been proposed in Patent No. 2,457,755 to provide a finger protector for the trigger hand mounted in surrounding relation to the gunstock, but this requires the hand to be in position at the trigger. This prevents carrying the firearm in an easy but ready position with the fingers of the trigger hand below the stock, as is common in stalking game or traveling through brush. Furthermore that device is wholly unsuited for a gun having either a bolt action or a lever action.

Cushions for gunstocks have been mounted on gunstocks as shown in Patent No. 2,193,310, but the normally closed license carrying pocket with its transparent face is not intended for nor suited for the insertion of the hand with the fingers in supporting relation below the gunstock.

Heated gloves have been proposed as in Patent No. 1,970,081. These require manipulations to withdraw the hand of a character which would prevent rapid access to the trigger if and when desired.

None of the devices heretofore available provided a hand protector and gunstock carrier which facilitated carrying the gun at a ready position with the hand in supporting position with respect to the gunstock and so that the hand of the gunner could readily be removed from the protector and moved so that the trigger finger engaged the trigger and also returned to supporting position.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a hand protector and gunstock carrier and more particularly to a protector for the hand carried by the gunstock so that the hand may be selectively shifted from a supporting or carrying position on the gunstock to a position for engagement of the trigger by the trigger finger.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hand protector and gunstock carrier which is held in secured relation to the gunstock and with respect to which the hand of the user is readily removable for other operations and insertable as desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hand protector and gunstock carrier which can receive and retain one or more fuel burning or other heaters in selected positions for heating the hand.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a hand pro tector and gunstock carrier in accordance with the invention in place on a gunstock;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is another side elevational view as seen from the opposite side from that of FIG. 1.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings a gunstock 11 of conventional type is shown having a butt end 11 and the breech mechanism 12 at the front end thereof with a hammer 13 actuated by a trigger 14. The gunstock In is shown as having a lever mechanism 15 thereon although the invention can readily be used on firearms of other types and is not limited to use with this specific type of firearm.

The hand protector and gunstock carrier 16 in accordance with the invention can be made of any desired strong flexible windproof material, such as leather. The hand protector and gunstock carrier 16 preferably includes a mounting band 17 which encircles the gunstock 1t) spaced from the butt end 11 and from the lever mechanism 15 and is held in engagement with the gunstock 10 in any desired manner. For this purpose the band 17 contiguous to the ends can be provided with rows of eyelets .18 for the reception of a lacing strand 19. A closure flap 261 can extend from the band 17 from one row of eyelets 18 in overlapping relation to the other row of eyelets 18.

The band 17 intermediate the top and bottom of the gunstock 1t and preferably opposite the closure flap 213 and eyelets 18, has secured thereto a hand receiving protective pocket 25. The pocket 25 is preferably elongated so as to have greater length than width so as to extend in folded position with the hand therein beneath the gunstock 1t and upwardly to the upper row of eyelets 13. This accommodates the gunstock against the hand rather than merely the fingers of the user. The pocket 25 has an outer wall 26 with a curved lower or free end 27, an inner wall '28 of similar shape to the outer wall 26 and a conecting wall 29. The outer wall 26 is joined to the connecting wall 29 by a line of stitching 3d and the inner wall 28 is joined to the connecting wall 29 by a line of stitching 31. No separate thumb recess is provided as this would serve no purpose and would merely rnak access more difficult.

The pocket 25 is preferably mounted so as to have a slight forward inclination and is secured to the band 17 in any desired manner, such as by spaced lines of stitches 32 and 33. The pocket 25 is preferably closed except for an access opening 34 at the top. The walls 26, 28 and 29 are inturned and hemmed with lines of stitches 35.

The upper margins of the pocket 25 are intermediate the top and bottom of the gunstock it when the band 17 is in mounted position on the gunstock 10 to furnish a cover and protection for the back of the hand up to the wrist. The pocket 25 is of a sufficient length from its upper margins so that the closed end thereof with the fingers of the user therein extends down one side of the band 17 and of the gunstock 1t), beneath the gunstock 10, and upwardly along the other side of the band 17 and of the gunstock It) so that with the hand of the user therein the gunstock 10 can be supported.

The pocket 25, in the interior thereof, is preferably provided with a pendant panel 33 which may be integral with the inner wall 28. The panel 38 serves to removably carry a pocket type fuel burning hand warmer or heater 4t and for this purpose pairs of spaced parallel slits 41 provide carrying straps 42 to retain the warmer 43 in place for warming the palm of the hand. The panel 38, if not used as a support for the heater 4%, does not interfere in any way with the use of the hand protector.

The pocket 25, in the interior thereof, is provided with an upstanding panel 45 secured along one margin 42 by a line of stitching The opposite and upper margin 44 of the panel 45 is detachably secured to the interior of the outer wall 26 by spaced separable fasteners 47. The panel 45 serves to removably carry a heater 4% for warming the backs of the fingers.

Ready access can be had to the heaters 42 at either location for refueling and for removal and insertion as desired.

In use the band 17 is placed around a gunstock it in spaced relation to and between the butt end 11 and to the trigger 14 and clear of the lever mechanism 15. This position is determined by the user.

The lacing strand 19 is tightened across the rows of eyelets 18 to retain the band 17 in position, with the pocket 25 effectively located for use.

With warmers 40 in either or both locations shown and in active condition to give off heat the hand of the user can be inserted into the pocket 25 into a position for the hand to extend beneath the stock it! in supporting relation with the fingers extending upwardly. The heat from the warmers 40 in either or both locations will retain the hand of the user in heated condition. The relatively impervious character of the pocket 25 will prevent chilling even in a high wind.

The hand of the user will also be protected in travelling through brush, briars, and the like while supporting the gunstock 1G.

The hand of the user in warm and protected condition can be quickly withdrawn from the pocket 25 and moved to the trigger 14 ready to squeeze the same as required. The hand can be quickly and easily inserted as desired into the pocket 25 for warming for protection.

The relatively light weight and flexible character of the hand protector are such that the hand protector mounted on the stock 1% will not interfere with the normal use of the firearm nor will it add weight which might be burdensome. At the same time it is not likely to be damaged by weather conditions nor by contact with brush or briars.

This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Serial No. 264,354, filed March 11, 1963.

We claim:

1. A hand protector and gunstock carrier comprising a positioning band for mounting in encircling relation to a gunstock forwardly of the butt of the gunstock, a retaining member for holding said band in position, and means carried by said band for protecting the hand while supporting the gunstock along a lower margin thereof, said means including a hand receiving pocket closed at its lower end and secured at an upper part thereof to one side of said band below the top thereof, said pocket extending downwardly from said band, said pocket being of greater length along said band than its width at said upper part and having wall portions of a length to extend along and beneath said band for disposition of the fingers in supporting relation beneath the band, said pocket having at said upper part an upwardly facing access opening along said band for insertion of the hand and for disposition of the hand in said pocket in said supporting relation.

2. A hand protector and gunstock carrier as defined in claim 1 in which said pocket has a hand warmer mounted therein.

3. A hand protector and gunstock carrier as defined in claim 1 in which said pocket has a panel therein having a free end for insertion into said pocket, and said panel has a hand warmer carried thereby.

4. A hand protector and gunstock carrier as defined in which said pocket has therein a plurality of separated hand warmer retaining portions, at least one of which has a hand warmer therein.

5. A hand protector and gunstock carrier as defined in claim 1 in which said pocket has a panel therein detachably connected at one margin to one of the wall portions to provide an interior warmer receiving location.

6. A hand protector and gunstock carrier as defined in claim 5 in which said panel has a hand warmer carried thereby.

7. A hand protector and gunstock carrier as defined in claim 1 in which said band on the opposite side thereof from the upper part of said pocket has spaced rows of eyelets and said retaining member includes a lacing engaging said rows of eyelets.

8. A hand protector and gunstock carrier as defined in claim 1 in which said pocket interiorly thereof has a panel secured along one margin thereof to one of said wall portions and said panel has a free end extending into said pocket, and said panel between said margin and said free end has a hand warmer carried thereby, said panel being retractable from said pocket for access to said Warmer, and said panel in inserted position in said pocket positioning said warmer at a handwarming position.

9. A hand protector and gunstock carrier as defined in claim 1 in which said pocket interiorly thereof has a panel secured along one margin thereof to one of said side wall portions, said panel extends vertically from said one margin and at an opposite margin is removably secured to said side wall portion to provide a location for hand warmer retention.

10. A hand protector and gunstock carrier as defined in claim 9 in which a hand warmer is in engagement with said panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,970,081 8/34 Eisendrath 126204 2,193,310 3/40 Brant 42-1 2,457,755 12/48 UgaZio et al 42-1 2,627,306 2/53 Stadd et al 126208 3,057,342 10/62 Woodzick 126-208 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. SAMUEL FEINBERG, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,l6 7,875 February 2, 1965 Norman T. Winner et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected belo' Column 2, line 50, for "conectin v g" read connecting column 4, line 17, after "in" insert 9 claim 1 in Signed and sealed this 22nd day of June 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER' EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNIT-E'D STATE S PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CURRECT ION Patent No. 3,161,875 I February 2, 1965 Norman T. Winner et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 50, for "conecting" read connecting column 4, line 17, after "in" insert --v claim 1 in Signed and sealed this 22nd day of June 1965.-

(SEAL) Attcst:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A HAND PROTECTOR AND GUNSTOCK CARRIER COMPRISING A POSITIONING BAND FOR MOUNTING IN ENCIRCLING RELATION TO A GUNSTOCK FORWARDLY OF THE BUTT OF THE GUNSTOCK, A RETAINING MEMBER FOR HOLDING SAID BAND IN POSITION, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BAND FOR PROTECTING THE HAND WHILE SUPPORTING THE GUNSTOCK ALONG A LOWER MARGIN THEREOF, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A HAND RECEIVING POCKET CLOSED AT ITS LOWER END AND SECURED AT AN UPPER PART THEREOF TO ONE SIDE OF SAID BAND BELOW THE TOP THEREOF, SAID POCKET EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BAND, SAID POCKET BEING OF GREATER LENGTH ALONG SAID BAND THAN ITS WIDTH AT SAID UPPER PART AND HAVING WALL PORTIONS OF A LENGTH TO EXTEND ALONG AND BENEATH SAID BAND FOR DISPOSITION OF THE FINGERS IN SUPPORTING RELATION BENEATH THE BAND, SAID POCKET HAVING AT SAID UPPER PART AN UPWARDLY FACING ACCESS OPENING ALONG SAID BAND FOR INSERTION OF THE HAND AND FOR DISPOSITION OF THE HAND IN SAID POCKET IN SAID SUPPORTING RELATION. 